cheapen

present singular third person cheapens · participle present cheapening · participle past cheapened · past cheapened

1. transitiveTo decrease the value or price of; to make cheaper.

   Now, covered concrete troughs to house the cables are laid parallel with the railway lines, cheapening maintenance because of improved accessibility for inspection and repair.

   1961 November, “Talking of Trains: The North Eastern's new rail-mounted piling unit”, in Trains Illustrated, page 646

2. transitiveTo make vulgar.

   The pace of the season can't help but cheapen these scenes, but I can’t deny that it's a blast. I’ve been critical of both the relative depopulation of the cast in this final run and the speedy, schematic narrative that checks off high points and moves on without really building to them.

   2017 August 13, Brandon Nowalk, “Oldtown Offers One Last Game-changing Secret as Game of Thrones Goes behind Enemy Lines (Newbies)”, in The Onion A.V. Club

3. intransitiveTo become cheaper.
4. obsoletetransitiveTo bargain for, ask the price of.

   The maid was on the step, cheapening fish with a virulent lady who had a sieve-full to dispose of.

   1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Church-yard. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   I should like to have seen that noble old madcap Peterborough in his boots (he actually had the audacity to walk about Bath in boots!), with his blue ribbon and stars, and a cabbage under each arm, and a chicken in his hand, which he had been cheapening for his dinner.

   1861 November, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “George the First”, in The Four Georges: Sketches of Manners, Morals, Court, and Town Life, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, pages 34–35